Sub-Regional Resource Facility for Arab States

Knowledge Sharing

Desertification Day 17 June

To commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification on 17 June the UNDP Drylands Development Centre's Lebanese Project Team to Combat Desertification organized in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment and some private sector companies such as Schtroumpf, Tetra Pak and Coca-Cola a nature photo tour in the desert-prone areas for a group of graphic design students from nine different Lebanese Universities.

During the two-day tour, which took place in May 2003 the students visited several sites in north and north-eastern parts of the country and were accompanied by university lecturers,a professional photographer and a camera crew. As a result of the nature tour, a photo exhibition open to the public was held in downtown Beirut in Place d'Étoile on 17 June and best photos taken by the students were awarded a prize.

A Winning Picture The main objective of the activity was to create public awareness, to sensitize the students to desertification issues, to focus on the flaw of natural resource management and show the linkages between poverty and drylands. 60% of the Lebanese surface area can be classified as drylands. Areas prone to desertification in Lebanon coincide with poverty striken areas, especially Akkar, Baalbeck, Hermel, parts of west Bekaa and the South.

COP6 in Havana

The Arab States Programme of the UNDP Drylands Development Centre held a Special Advisory Committee Meeting during the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) in Havana 2 September 2003. "Innovating Programming in Support of the CCD Implementation in the Arab States" side event was organized in partnership with the Government of Finland. The following comprehensive presentation on Arab States Programme's approach, objectives and main results was given by Regional Team Leader Elie Kodsi.